Londons Resurrection, Discourse 39
DISCOURSE XXXIX.
That if the pleaſure that is in Building, were underſtood by all men, more perſons of eſtates would be ingaged in the reedifying of London.
WEre I a batchelor I ſhould be prone to think that marriage were a pleaſant eſtate, and had comforts that did outweigh the troubles of it, obſerving ſo many perſons to enter into it, a ſecond, third, and fourth time, who had certainly experimented the manifeſt cares, and circumſtances, which attend it. In like manner, though I my ſelf be no builder; nor ever was any ſuch thing perſonally, yet do I conclude there is a great deal of pleaſure in it (to them that have wherewithal) becauſe there are ſo many who ſeem to be never well but when they are building, though it expoſe them to a thouſand cares, and difficulties, and turn to no account of profit, nor is like to do, though they be forced to do it with borrowed money, which they ſcarce know how to pay, &c.
Now what but the pleaſure they find in building ſhould make them amends for all their care and trouble, hazard and loſs, which they have ſuſtained by it, time after time? notwithſtanding which, they are wedded to it, and do perſevere in it. I ſay what but the bait of pleaſure tempts them afreſh into the ſame net (in which they have formerly been ſo much hampered, and intangled) I cannot devize. Surely that pleaſure which doth or ſeemeth, to countervail ſo much pain and vexation, as building muſt needs put them to, who are but indigent, and (whoſe bags and purſes have too much room within, whilſt they are building more without) I ſay that pleaſure muſt needs be very great.
And yet the pleaſure which ſome men have, in and by building, having ſo great an allay from their cares, and fears, and ſtraits, cannot be half ſo much as others might have, whoſe purſes and eſtates are commenſurate with their undertakings, and more than ſufficient to build what they take in …and.
I confeſs I would incourage ſuch, and none but ſuch to meddle with building, otherwiſe than upon neceſſity. For if the ſpirit of building fall upon others (thoſe I mean who have not money enough to anſwer what they do (for a little money will not anſwer all things, though a great deal can do much) it will certainly caſt them one while into the fire, and another while into the water, as was that …natick man of whom we read, Mat. 17.15. I mean into great perplexities, as is ſaid of him, that …e was ſore vexed, &c. If the pleaſure of building …e to them ſo refreſhing, as water is to them that hath therein, in the midſt of ſummer: yet the difficulty of it, to men under their circumſtances, will torment them like fire. But to them that have money enough and to ſpare, building is little elſe but a meer pleaſure, greater than that of bathing ones ſelf in a clear, chryſtal river, in a ſcorching day. Building of Cities was that diverſion which Cain made choiſe of, when he was moſt perplexed, and ſurely he choſe that which he found to give him moſt …aſe. Many know not what the pleaſure of building is, becauſe they never tried it; who ſhould they …nce try it would find as much pleaſure in it, as they that have found moſt. A manly, noble, uſeful retreation it is, to thoſe that have a genius that way, and can bear the prefent charge of it; and there is hardly any thing which may be called, or made a recreation, that is comparable to it. As for cheſſe draughts, tables, cards, and dice, which prove to many as expenſive (if not more) than building it ſelf, what are they but childrens play, like puſhpin and ſhittlecock in compariſon of building? and being ſuch can afford no ſuch content to a larg heart, and a generous mind, as building can, which is a recreation like it ſelf.
Were I to give a reaſon of that vaſt pleaſure which many men do take in building (and more would, if they did but try it) I ſhould chiefly rely upon this, viz. that it is natural to men to take delight in all improvements, that are of their own making, to ſee things, as well as perſons, that do (as it were) call them father: to ſee a handſom, thriving offſpring of their parts, pains, and purſes, as well as of their bodies, to behold the viſible fruit of their minds, as well as of their loins, ex. gr. goodly houſes of their contriving, beſpeaking, &c. Humane nature (as one obſerves) is not greatly pleaſed, ſimply, and only, with our having much, if we make no more of it than it was at firſt, (as if a man were born to a thouſand a year, and ſhould make no more of it to his dying day) but with our making more of what we have, though it be but a little: as if he that was born to nothing, get a ſmall eſtate about him, that he can make ſhift to live upon. To bring this down to my purpoſe, Houſes built in thoſe places which were before ruinous heaps, are a viſible, and manifeſt improvement, which being withal of a mans own making, ſeems to be an honour to him, and to carry ſome image, and ſuperſcription of his worth and wiſdom, by whom ſuch improvement was made: goodly and well contrived houſes, are (as it were) ſo many looking glaſſes, in which the builders of them ſeem to ſee the face of ſomething in themſelves that is handſom, happy and excellent: they do as it were ſtand up and call them bleſſed, ſuccesful and prudent above many others: (with many other good names) and this is pleaſing to men, as it is to beautiful perſons to be often looking in the glaſs. If it be a huge grief, and vexation to men (as it is) to ſee, and reflect upon thoſe things, which do as it were call them fools, (as if they have been notoriouſly cheated, and the like) then it muſt needs be as delightful on the other hand, to contemplate thoſe things which are, or are like to be, great demonſtrations, and laſting monuments of their owrth, and wiſdom, as wellbuilt houſes, are commonly thought to be.)
Good men have other, and higher reaſons, of that contentment which they take in building, than that which I have given already (though that be common to them alſo) one whereof is, it is a pleaſure to them to ſet poor men at work, to help them and their families, to live by their honeſt labour: Another is, it is for the advancement of a publick good, and good men know they were not born for themſelves, but alſo for the good of others; and therefore build they will, though they chance to loſe by it, becauſe it is for the benefit of the community that ſome body ſhould build, and none but ſuch as they who have plentiful eſtates are fit to do it: What worthy perſon that hath enough, and to ſpare, would not be doing ſomething (though himſelf loſt by it, in point of eſtate) that might be pleaſurable to himſelf, profitable to others, and ſerviceable to the publick? None are upbraided by ungainful buildings, but thoſe that built for gain, and needed what they built for; but others are perfectly excuſed by this, they built for their own pleaſure, and for the good of others: It is well for us, and happy for others, when we make that our own private pleaſure, which is no leſs a publick good.